Research Proposal: Literature Review Assignment Instructions
Overview
You will research and write a literature review on one communication theory relevant to the field of communication. You will have approximately six modules to research and write the sample proposal paper on the topic that you presented as your Condensed Research Proposal Topic in the Discussion: Condensed Research Proposal Topic. For this we are using agenda-setting theory and the condensed research proposal topic is how media framing influences public opinion and public perception.
Do not “recycle” any work from any previous courses you have taken. You may include information from previously cited sources and journals. This specific assignment is the literature review portion of the sample research proposal.
Instructions
This assignment is a comprehensive theory review of the scholarly literature related to your chosen topic.
What is a literature review?
A literature review discusses one particular communication theory based on published communication scholarship. The literature review provides a preliminary review of the existing literature on this one theory, including background literature, current ongoing research, and opportunities or gaps in the existing body of literature. Your literature review should also demonstrate a clear understanding of the difference between your chosen topic and the theory that informs your topic.
Your literature review should present the reader with a strong sense of an organizational pattern. The literature review should synthesize what previous communication scholars have published about one communication theory. You should be sure to identify the one source that the began this communication theory within your literature review.
How is a literature review different from an academic research paper?
The literature review represents the theory portion of the academic paper. The literature review functions as the lens through which the topic will be examined.
Why write literature reviews?
The literature review traces the theoretical lineage of the communication scholarship from its intellectual infancy to its contemporary state. Students should think of the literature review as an exercise to become more conversant with the literature and an exercise to become more conversant with communication scholars. The literature review is also a way in which students can examine the current field of communication in order to contribute to the field.
What is the format for literature reviews?
“Just like most academic papers, literature reviews also must contain at least three basic elements: an introduction or background information section; the body of the review containing the discussion of sources; and, finally, a conclusion and/or recommendations section to end the paper.
Introduction: Gives a quick idea of the nature of the communication theory, such as the central theme or organizational pattern.
Body: Contains your discussion of sources and is organized thematically.
Conclusions/Recommendations: Discuss what you have drawn from reviewing literature so far. Where might the discussion proceed?”
What is a thematic literature review?
“Thematic reviews of literature are organized around a topic or issue, rather than the progression of time.”ii
“Sometimes, though, you might need to add additional sections that are necessary for your study but do not fit in the organizational strategy of the body. What other sections you include in the body is up to you. Put in only what is necessary. Here are a few other sections you might want to consider:
Current Situation: Information necessary to understand the topic or focus of the literature review.
History: The chronological progression of the field, the literature, or an idea that is necessary to understand the literature review if the body of the literature review is not already a chronology.
Methods and/or Standards: The criteria you used to select the sources in your literature review or the way in which you present your information. For instance, you might explain that your review includes only peer-reviewed articles and journals.
Questions for Further Research: What questions about the field has the review sparked? How will you further your research as a result of the review?”iii
The review must conform to current APA standards, include 10-12 pages of content (excluding the title page, abstract, and reference pages), and include a minimum of 15 primary, scholarly references from the communication discipline. Be sure to use sources from the journals listed in the Communication Journals document under the Research Proposal: Literature Review Resources section in Canvas to compile your 15 scholarly references. Any sources used in excess to these 15 sources are not required to be from the discipline of communication. Three levels of current APA headings must be used throughout this review as this is a graduate-level research paper.
Some students do not fully understand the difference between plagiarism and paraphrasing. Paraphrasing is when you use a source or someone else’s idea and put it in your own words. When you paraphrase, you must still give the author’s name, date, title of the source, the scholarly journal where it came from and the exact website address or book.
However, when you directly quote a source, it must have quotation marks around the quote, or (if 40 words or more) it must be set in block quotation format. You must also give detailed information about where you acquired the quote.
For the purpose of this review, adhere to the following rules when quoting or using a source:
Do not directly quote more than 120 words from any one source.
If the source is 2,000 words or less, do not directly quote more than 50 words from any one source.
Do not use the same source more than a total of three times within the whole document for quoting or paraphrasing.
Quotes must contain the section (if provided) and paragraph or page numbers of the quote, and this information must be placed in the reference.
In all instances, use current APA guidelines for citations and references.
The review must not be a series of quotations.
Email your instructor with any questions regarding the project.
Note: Your assignment will be checked for originality via the Turnitin plagiarism tool.
